The independence of the Swiss National Bank risks being compromised due to political pressure following the departure of Philipp Hildebrand as chairman, the central bank’s acting chairman has warned, the Financial Times reports.

An extended bank holiday in the European Union to halt a steep market fall, a third party candidate winning the race for the White House, and 50 European banks being nationalized are just a few of Saxo Bank's "outrageous predictions" for 2012.